Lifting mechanism for annealing-boxes.



A. P. DIESCHER.

LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ANNEALING BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1916- 1,216,291 Patented Feb.20, 1917.

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LlFTiNG MECHANISM FOR ANNEALING BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31,1916.

1 ,2 1 6,29 1 Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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AUGUST P. DIESCHER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ANNEALING-'BOXES..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. so, rare.

Application filed May 31, 1916. Serial No. 100,965.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, AUoUsT P. DmsoHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifting Mechanism for Annealing-Boxes, of which the following is a specification;

My invention consists of an improvement in lifting mechanism for annealing'boxes, or

the like, and has for its object to provide means for engaging the box underneath,

positively holding it during transportation, and automatically releasing the carrying arms or elements, as more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l is a view of the device in side elevation, in operative position, with the parts arranged as they are located for lifting.

Fig. 2 is a side or edge view of the device, corresponding to the position of the parts, as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial elevation, similar to Fig. 1, but showing theholding arms relaxed.'

1n the handling of annealing boxes, or

other similar heavy articles, it is usual to engage the opposite lower sides of the box by lifting hooks or supports of "different kinds, and to raise and transport the box to some other location and it is very desirable that the box-engaging mechanism shall be fixedly and positively held in position when the strain of the weight is exerted, so as to prevent accidental falling or displacement and resulting dangerous accidents or breakage.

in carrying out my invention, 1 provide at each side of the lifting mechanism a pair of shoes or hooks 2, 2, extending inwardly from the main arms 3, 3, which may be con veniently merged into a single main arm 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

Arm 4 is pivoted at each side'by a bolt or 7 pin 5 to the terminal portion of a transverse supporting bar or frame composed of side members 6,6. These are of sufficient strength and rigidity to normally maintain any usual load or weigh 3 supported by the shoe terminals 2. Arms 1 and their forked portions 3, 3, are thereby capable of being swung outwardly or inwardly away from or underneath' the'lower side edges of the annealing box or other article, being preferably in vertically pendant position when in load-engaging relation to the'box, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The-transverse bars 6, 6, are vertically raised and lowered the link arms 7, 7, a pair of said arms being arranged at each side of the central portion of the structure,

said arms being pivotally connected by a bolt or pin 8 to the bars 6, inwardly of the pivotal bolt 5.

The arms 7 extend inwardly and upwardly and are provided with a terminal carrying bolt or pin 9, one for each arm, with which the link 10 of the main supporting ring 11 is connected, one for each, as clearly shown.

The arm 7 extends downwardly and out-- wardly beyond its pivotal connection 8 at each side of the framework, and is provided with a cross bar or bolt 12, upon which is preferably mounted a roller 13, adapted to engage underneath the locking lug or block 14 of each main supporting arm 4.

Said block is secured to the arm by bolts or rivets 15 or otherwise, as desired, and is provided on its under side with an inclined face, against which and the flat face 16 the roller 13 is adapted to bear with considerable pressure when the device is under the strain of the load, as in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of positively releasing roller 13 away from engagement with the locking projection of theblock 141-, the upper portions of arm 7 being somewhat longer than their lower ext-ended portions, will counterbalance the lower portions, and by falling inwardly and downwardly, as in Fig. 3, will throw the roller 13 outwardly away from looking engagement when the device is relaxed.

In order to insure such overbalancing and unlocking of the arms, they are preferablyprovided at their upper portions with a counterweight 17, which may be a block of metal held between the opposite arms. 7, 7 by bolts 18, or otherwise, as desired.

In order to positively insure the lowering and relaxing of the chain links 10, the ring 11 is provided with a loose connection, as by links 19, with a stem or stud 20 extending downwardly between the housing plates 21, and engaging, so as to utilize its -tension,. one or moresprings 22. v

Stem 20 extends downwardly through the central flat bearing portion of a connecting sides being fixedly connected at the inner side of the middle port-ion of each-f the the spring or springs and compressing them,

when the device is under the strain of the annealingbox or other load, so that when the load is released and the lifting strain is released from ring 11, bythe crane hook, or other means employed, the spring or springs 22 will expand and positively draw the stud 20 and ring 11 downwardly, thereby positively relaxing the connections with arms 7;

As shown, the terminal bearings for the springs '22, either by the cross plate 23 or washer 25, or both, are for the full cross area of the spring, providing forv equalization of -the strains and obviating any tendency to tipping and insuring free action when the strain is released.

Thereupon, both of the side bars 3 and their shoes 2 may be drawn outwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, by merely grasping the bars themselves, or by means of an attached handle bar 28 secured cross wise upon the arms 3, as clearly shown. I

The upper faces of the shoes 2 may be corrugated or toothed, as indicated, whereby to insure non-slipping engagement with the under portion of the annealing box; and when the strain of the load is exerted, and the pressure of the terminal roller 13 and bar 12 is exerted by the strain of the load itself inwardly against the outer portions of the supporting bars, and, incidentally, in engagement with the lug" plates 14;, the supporting arms will be incapable of outward movement, until the strain is relaxed, as above described.

Due to the inclined position of arms 7 their rollers 13 will always bear with considerable pressure against the inclined faces of block 14:.under the load, and any tendency of the supporting arms to swing outwardly away from the box will be positively counteracted, as such lateral pressure tends to bind these parts more tightly into lockingenga gement.

In case of wear on the rollers 13 or the faces of blocks 14, they may be adjusted by inserting liners or shims 26 between the blocks and the arms 4, or the holding bolts 15 may be provided with slotted openings 27 for adjusting the block vertically for the same purpose.

It will be understood that the improvement is in no way limited to its particular application to annealing boxes, but may be used with equally good results in lifting and transporting other similar articles; that the invention may be variously changed or modified in different detail features of construction, design, proportions, or otherwise by the skilled mechanic within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A' lifting mechanism of the class described consisting of a horizontally arranged supporting frame, load carrying arms pivoted to the opposite end portions of said frame and having inwardly extended shoes and locking abutments, lifting arms pivoted on said frame inwardly of said pivotal attachments having lower terminals extending downwardly beyond and cooperable with said abutments and upper terminals provided with flexible connections, and means engaging said connections for attachment to a centrally arranged lifting element.

2. In combination, a transverse frame having at its end portions pivotally attached load carrying hook arms, a locking abutment extending outwardly from each of saidarms, a centrally arranged carrying link, andarms pivoted to said frame having at their upper ends flexible connections with said link and at their lower ends a transverse roller adapted to engage said abutment.

3. In combination, a transverse frame having at its end portions pivotally attached load carrying hook arms, a locking abutment extending outwardly from each of said arms, a centrally arranged carrying link, and arms pivoted to said frame having at their upper ends flexible connections with said link and overbalancing counterweights, and at their lower ends a transverse roller adapted to engage said abutmeiit upon exertion of lifting'strain and to be thrown outwardly in disengagement therefrom upon release of such strain.

4. In combination, a transverse frame having at its end portions pivotally attached load carrying hook arms, a locking abutment extending outwardly from each of said arms, a centrally arranged carrying link, arms pivoted to said frame having at their upper ends flexible connections with said link and at their lower ends a transverse roller adapted to engage said abutment, a spring housing and spring mounted centrally of the supporting frame, and a stem connected to the carrying link and engaging said spring adapted to be drawn AUGUST P. DIESCHER.

Witnesses:

W. A. HECKMAN, C. .M. CLARKE. 

